paper

Conical singularity in spacetimes with NUT is observer-dependent

arXiv:2507.21238 · doi:10.1103/w2ct-wjh5

Abstract

We discuss the issue of defining and measuring conical deficits (conicity) in spacetimes with the torsion singularity such as the Misner string in Taub--NUT spacetime. We propose a geometric definition that generalizes the standard notion of conicity to stationary axially symmetric spacetimes with torsion singularity, where the conical deficit becomes observer-dependent -- it depends on the choice of a timelike Killing vector. This implies the existence of observers who perceive no conical singularity along the symmetry axis. As a result, in any spacetime with a non-vanishing NUT parameter, there are observers for whom the conicity has the same value on both semi-axes. This challenges the usual interpretation of conicity differences as indicators of string/rod-induced acceleration along the axis. We illustrate our definition across the full Plebański--Demiański class, including the recently identified accelerated Taub--NUT solution. Our attempts in determining a canonical observer lead to even less desirable definitions of conicity.

20 pages, 3 figures; typos corrected

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